Deep Boreholes
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Report 2007:6e from the Swedish National Council for Nuclear Waste The Swedish National Council for Nuclear Waste – KASAM – is an independent scientific committee within the Ministry of the En- vironment. Its task is to advise the Government in matters relating Deep boreholes. An alternative for final disposal of spent nuclear fuel? to nuclear waste and the decommissioning of nuclear installations. KASAM’s members are experts within different areas of importance for the disposal of radioactive waste, not only in technology and science, but also in such areas as ethics, the humanities and the social sciences. In the autumn of 2006, KASAM launched a new transparency programme aimed at strengthening KASAM’s role as an advisor to the Government by shedding light on strategic issues. Question-and- answer sessions and seminars aimed at clarifying facts and values in current issues will be central features. The programme should also serve as a resource for other stakeholders in the future licensing process. A feasibility study for the transparency programme revealed high expectations on the part of central actors in the nuclear waste issue. Among other things, an immediate need was found for a thorough elucidation of questions concerning “deep boreholes” as an alternative to the so-called KBS-3 method. KASAM therefore held a question- and-answer session concerning this method on 14–15 March 2007. Some of the questions that were raised were: What are the technical, geological and hydrological premises and possibilities? What are the risks from different viewpoints and what values underlie different views of the potential and suitability of deep boreholes? This report contains presentations and discussions from the question-and-answer session and concludes with an analysis of the KASAM Report 2007:6e arguments proffered by various actors. This report and the presentations from the question-and-answer session are available on our website www.karnavfallsradet.se. Deep boreholes An alternative for final disposal of spent nuclear fuel? Report from KASAM’s question-and-answer session on 14 –15 March 2007 Swedish National Council for Nuclear Waste (KASAM) M 1992:A Deep boreholes An alternative for final disposal of spent nuclear fuel? Report from KASAM´s question-and-answer session on 14-15 March 2007 Swedish National Council for Nuclear Waste (M 1992:A), KASAM Ministry of the Environment Kv. Spektern, SE-103 33 Stockholm, Sweden Telephone: +46 8 405 24 37; Fax: +46 8 20 10 66, www.karnavfallsradet.se This report can be ordered from the Swedish National Council for Nuclear Waste’s secretariat Writer: Annika Olofsdotter, Vetenskapsjournalisterna Cover: Miljöinformation AB Cover photo: Ingmar Jernberg Translated into English by Richard Nord Translations AB EDITA VÄSTRA AROS Stockholm 2007 ISSN 1653-820 X Preface In the autumn of 2006, the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co (SKB) applied for a permit to build an encapsulation plant, and is planning in 2009 to apply for a permit to build a final repository for spent nuclear fuel. This is an important point of departure the Swedish National Council for Nuclear Waste (KASAM) in its activity planning, so that the Council can provide active and effective support to the Government in its processing of these applications. An important part of this work is identifying the vital issues from different perspectives and making arguments and other information transparent by clarifying technical issues and values for decision-makers and the public. Furthermore it is very important to bring about a dialogue on these issues between the actors who are of central importance for the preparation of the application and the actors who are otherwise affected by the decision. This dialogue is important from both a knowledge perspective (identifying important issues and making sure they are analyzed and discussed) and a democratic perspective (concerned actors must be given an opportunity to make their voices heard and the issues must be explained in a way that is comprehensible to all categories of actors). In the autumn of 2006, KASAM therefore initiated a transparency programme aimed at accumulating knowledge and strengthening KASAM’s role as an advisor to the Government by making strategic issues transparent. The transparency programme should also serve as a resource for other stakeholders in the future licensing process. Preface Report 2007:6e The first step in the programme was to meet different actors in the nuclear waste field to solicit viewpoints on what issues should be addressed in the programme. The result was a list of issues varying in nature (everything from detailed scientific issues to issues of principle in the decision process). “Deep boreholes” has recently received attention in the public debate as an alternative to the KBS-3 method for disposing of the spent nuclear fuel. In accordance with the wishes of the municipalities of Oskarshamn and Östhammar, SKB and the Swedish NGO Office for Nuclear Waste Review (MKG), KASAM therefore decided that these matters need to be made more transparent. The Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI) and the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSI) also lent their support to this theme for the question-and-answer session. On 14–15 March 2007, KASAM therefore held a hearing for the purpose of thoroughly examining deep boreholes as a method for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Some of the questions that were raised were: What are the technical, geological and hydrological premises and possibilities? What are the risks from different viewpoints and what values underlie different views of the potential and suitability of deep boreholes? This hearing is the first in a series of seminars and question-and- answer sessions within the framework of the transparency programme. A programme for future transparency projects is available on KASAM’s website www.karnavfallsradet.se. Stockholm, August 2007 Torsten Carlsson Chairperson Contents 1 Introduction................................................................. 9 2 Background: Formal requirements, values and geological prerequisites .............................................. 11 2.1 Requirements on alternatives reporting ................................. 11 2.2 What is meant by deep boreholes? ......................................... 16 2.3 Geological prerequisites for deep boreholes .......................... 18 2.4 Groundwater chemistry at great depths................................. 19 2.5 Choice of method depends on facts and values..................... 22 3 Technology and long-term safety.................................. 29 3.1 Deep boreholes – drilling technology..................................... 29 3.2 SKB on deep boreholes............................................................ 31 3.2.1 Background ................................................................... 31 3.2.2 SKB’s point of view ...................................................... 33 3.2.3 How can deep boreholes be affected by glaciation?...................................................................... 34 3.2.4 Questions and discussion............................................. 38 3.3 Some reflections on SKB’s attitude ........................................ 41 5 Contents Report 2007:6e 4 Ave new facts emerged that support or alter previous standpoints regarding deep boreholes? Some reflections..................................................................49 5 What the regulatory authorities think of the deep borehole concept ........................................................55 5.1 Swedish Radiation Protection Authority ...............................55 5.2 Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate .....................................58 5.3 Questions and discussion ........................................................60 6 Safety philosophy for final disposal ..............................63 6.1 Viewpoints of the actors..........................................................63 6.2 Questions and discussion ........................................................69 7 Concluding panel debate and discussion.....................73 7.1 Technology ...............................................................................73 7.2 Hidden agenda and division of roles.......................................75 7.3 How do we obtain studies of the deep borehole alternative? Who will foot the bill?.........................................78 7.4 Multinational repositories........................................................82 7.5 Is it better to wait to build a final repository until the technology has been further developed? ................................83 7.6 Timetable for decisions? ..........................................................84 7.7 Input from and questions to Nils Axel Mörner, MILKAS ...................................................................................86 6 Report 2007:6e Contents 8 Some reflections ........................................................ 89 8.1 Agreement on fundamental facts and rerequisites................. 89 8.2 The actors’ arguments ............................................................. 90 8.3 Conclusion ............................................................................... 95 7 1 Introduction The KBS-3 method has been developed by SKB over a period of some 30 years and is the method for final disposal of spent nuclear fuel which the industry advocates and for which SKB will seek the necessary licence and permits. The method was